USPS Service Alerts

Last updated Aug. 17, 2017, 4:30 p.m. ET

USPS Service Alerts provide information to consumers, small businesses and business mailers about postal facility service disruptions due to weather-related and other natural disasters or events. Service alerts are done in near real time.

Residential customers and small businesses can use this website to learn if mail is being delivered, or if their Post Offices are open. Business mailers are provided more detailed information about USPS mail processing facilities, and the operating status of postal delivery units.

International mailers

Due to transportation changes currently underway in Cuba, the Postal Service advises that customers may experience longer than usual delivery times for mail service to Cuba. The Postal Service is working to resolve these transportation issues as quickly as possible to restore normal service expectations for mail and packages to Cuba. (posted 3/14/17)

Most mail services to Guatemala have been temporarily suspended. Until further notice, only Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service will still be available. The suspension affects Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First-Class Mail International, First-Class Package International Service, International Priority Airmail, International Surface Air Lift and M-Bag items.

The Postal Service will return to sender already deposited items other than GXG addressed to Guatemala. For any returned item bearing a customs form, as well as any item shipped with Priority Mail Express International service, the Postal Service will, upon request, refund postage and fees on mail returned due to the suspension of service.

For all other returned items not bearing a customs declarations form, the Postal Service will, upon request, refund postage and fees on mail returned due to the suspension of service, or the sender may remail them with the existing postage once service to Guatemala has been restored. When remailing under this option, customers must cross out the markings “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender.” (posted 4/11/17)

New Zealand Post advises its electronic data interchange system was impacted by an IT system disruption, affecting messages sent after July 25. The post is working to clear the EDI message backlog. (posted 7/31/2017)

Mail service for international mail addressed to some localities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine have been suspended. The specific localities and postal codes where service is suspended are listed on Ukranian postal operator Ukrposhta’s website at:

That website notes that international postal items to the listed localities may be sent as Poste Restante (General Delivery) to post offices in localities that are controlled by the Ukrainian government, and provides instructions for addressing the items.

Delivery services for international mail addressed to Crimea (postal codes in the range 95000–99999) are still suspended.

U.S. Postal Service acceptance of international lithium battery shipments

The Postal Service is now allowing specific quantities of lithium batteries — when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate — to be sent to many international destinations, including Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) locations when permitted by the destination or host country.

The postal operators of Germany and Italy are not accepting packages containing lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries to German or Italian addresses. Postal employees will decline electronic items containing lithium batteries to addresses in those two countries. This does not apply to shipments to and from German or Italian APO, FPO or DPO locations.

Items that can be shipped include: cameras, video cameras, mobile/smart phones, Bluetooth headsets, laptop computers, shavers, portable DVD players, tablets, two-way radios, GPS devices and most other small electronic devices requiring lithium batteries. Items that can’t be shipped include lithium batteries not installed in the equipment they are intended to operate. In addition, when installed, they may noat exceed the quantity or limits defined in the IMM or DMM.